Shoe stretcher



April 30, 1929. A. GonsHo SHOE STRETCHER Filed DBG. 17,- 1927 31a/venlo@ M mtonww Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHOE STRETCHER.

My invention relates to shoe stretchers, and aims generally to improve such devices.

Among the important ob] ects ol .my invention is to provide a stretcher or last adaptable l'or the manufacture ot custom made shoes, as tor instance for crippled feet, or for the adjustment and repair of shoes as vlfor exam ple, to correct certain detects in slices as heretofore produced upon lasts made according,r to casts, design or measure. In such cases, the last is usually ot' special shape and lorm and it is desirable and necessary to stretch the material of Athe shoe which may be accomplished with the aid of my invention Without distorting the last and Without interfering with subsequent operations upon the shoe While on the stretcher.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein I have selected i'or illustrative purposes one embodiment ot the inventiorn and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating the stretcher applied to a shoe;

Fig. 2 is a similar showing ot' the clamping,y means for holding the shoe in a stretched condition after the stretching mechanism has been removed; and

Fig. 3 is a cross section ou the line fil- 3 in Fig. 17 showing the details of the swivel eennections between the screw and the clamping;r levers.

The invention comprises separable vamp and heel sections in combination with lever means removably connected with the sections for forcing;r them apart longitudinally to stretch the material ot the shoe. and indecndent clampingv means detachably connected with the sections 'for holding;r the sections in an extended position, thereby peu mitting removal of theleverstrotchiugrnieans.

Referring noiv more particularly to th e embodiment ot the invention illustrated in the drawings, the vamp section or form l0 and heel section 11 are separable and are lirst placed in their respective parts in the shoe. The vamp and heel sections 1D and 11 need not be ot a special form corresponding to the shapes oit the last but may be skeleton forms which may be further built up.y as required or stretching or correctingr a shoe to overcome any particular defect or faulty condition therein, or to provide a last ot special contour corresponding to the abnormalities of a foot for which a Aspecial shoe is be Serial No. 240,895.

ing,l made. `For this purpose, a plurality of apertures such as 1:2 are appropriately placed in the vamp and heel sect-ions l() and 11, whereby removable pads, bands7 shapes, auxiliary or supplemental sections and the like may be secured upon the sections 10 and 11 in order to stretch the shoe material to prevent pressure upon detects, abnormalties, tender spots or the like upon the toot. Such a pad is shown by way of example, at 12', Figs. l and 2.

A suitable stretchingr mechanism is provided for forcing;r the vamp and heel sections apart longitudinally, thereby to stretch the shoex and in the presentinstance such mechanism comprises a pair of levers 13 and 14 pivotally connected together intermediate their ends, the lower ends thereof carryingA pivotally connected pin members 15-16 adapted to be removably seated in openings in the inner 'faces of the vamp and heel sections 10-11 respectively. A nut member 17 is pivotally connected to the upper ends ofthe lever member 13 in any desirable mannen` as by a trunnion 20. and aswivel bearing collar 23 pinned to thebar 21 prevents acoii dental removal ot the member 19 from the bar.` Y

The outer free endet the barQl is provided with a suitable handle member 24 by means ot which the bar may be rotated. Rotation of the bar in one direetioncauses the nut member 17 and the adjacent end `of the lever 13 to be forced away from the swivel member 19 and the adjacent end of the lever 14, thereby oreinp; apart the pin members 15 and 16,-and the vamp and heel sections 10 and 11, to stretch the shoe longitudinally.

After the shoe has been stretched sui ranged so that one ot the longer legs thereot overlies the other and is adapted to he clamped in position hy means ci a suitable clamp 2T, thus forming an extensible iml fted U-shaped clamping memher, the downwardly extending legs 28Min) ot which are loosely and movahly e'seated in apertures till 3l in the vamp and heel hloclis. the lower ends ot said legs hearing ag the trent tace 32 ot the aperture il() in said vamp portion, and against the rear tace l-l o t the aperture 3l in said heel portion, near the hottoms ot said laces. The legs are ot such length that their depth ot insertion into the apertnres is less than the depth of the apertin'es, in order that they may always exert a wedging action against the vamp and heel portions oi the last.

Said trout and rear itaees and 33 are respectively t'orwardly and rearwardly inclined trom bottoni to top, as shown in Fig. 9., whereby the downward legs 39 ot said clamp torce said vamp and heel port is turther apart as the legs are further inserted into said apertures. lily reason ot this arrangement, the vamp and heel portions may he inserted in a shoe and forced apart to the same extent as was originally done hy the stretching levers shown in Fig. l, hy inserting said clamp legs 28?,9 to the full possible depth in the apertures 30-3l- It is to be understood that the inclination ot' the faces 32 and 33 from the vertical is not so great as to permit slippage ot the lower ends of legs .Q8-29.

In operation, such pads, hands or other attachmen ts may he indicated hy the measnrements or cast ot the toot tor which a shoe is to he made, or titted, are attached to the vamp or heel section, or both, by means ot pegs tit-ted into the appropriate holes. The vamp and heel. portions ot the stretcher or last are then put into the shoe and the pins on the lower end ot the levers are inserted in the holes. The levers are then spread apart by turning the handle until the vamp and heel members are forced apart the correct distance for the length ot the shoe. The clamp, with the screw loosened, is put into position with the legs downward as tar as possible in the apertures, and the two pon tions ot the clamp are pushed apart unt-il the bottoms ot the legs hear lirmly againstthe taces near the hottom, and are then locked in adjustment hy tightening the screw,v

The levers and their attached pins are now removed and the heel and vamp portions ot the stretcher or last are firmly held in position hy the clamp alone. The shoe with the last still lirmly in place therein can now he removed tor further operations, including machine stitching it necessary. Should it he desired to remove the last, this may he accomplished hy pulling the clamp upward, thus releasing the separating pressure on the vamp and heel portions, which may then he separately removed .trom the shoe. rl"he last may he re-insertod and correctly adjusted hy placing the two portions into the shoe and :torcing them apart hy pushing the clamp down into position.

lliiy invention is advanlancona in shaping or stretching the lahrie o t shoes and the like to correct them to contorni lo any desired ast or shape ol Vloot. .it is not my intention, igiriniarily. to provide a last over which the shoe is made, hut l do provide a stretch-- ing device whereby a shoe may he shaped or corrected without changinag the general shape oit the last. tlhvion. here are many uses to which my ii'ivention adaptahle as will he apparent to the skilled nlechanic in the art.

Furthermore, after the material has heen stretched, certain parts ot the stretchino, Incclianism may he readily removed, and reinaining parte held in their stretched posi tion, readily permitting turther ineehancai operations olf lniilding up the shoe, or repair, without interference with the stretcher.

lt is to he understood that I do not limit myself to the preferred embodiment ot .my invention herein shown and described.

That is claimed is:

l. A shoe stretching last comprising separate vamp and heel portions, detachable means engageahle therewith for torcin g said portions apart and separate detachable means 'for holding said portions apart, while permitting the removal ot the first named means from between said portions.

2. A shoemalrers last comprising separate vamp and heel portions, detachable means tor forcing said portions apart longitudinally and separate adjustahle, detachahle means ior holding said portions apart while permitting;l the removal ot the first named means from hetween said portions.

3. A shoe stretchingr device comprising separate vamp and heel portions, detachable means for forcing said portions apart and separate detachable means for holding said portions apart, said holding means being adapted to maintain the measurement ot the distance of separation caused by said forcing means and to return said portions to said distance.

Li. A shoe stretching device comprising separate vamp and heel sections shaped to contorni roughly to the corresponding p0r tions ot the shoe, power multiplying stretch ing means detachahly connected to said vamp and heel sections, and clamping means Afor holding the vamp and heel sections in stretched position, permitting removal of the stretching means without displacement of the vamp or heel sections.

5. A shoe correction device comprising" vamp and heel sections ot skeleton form, mea-ns tor separating the sections longitudinally and means for holding the stretched sections against displacement While permitting the removal or' the irst named means from between said sections. t

(i. A shoe stretching,l last comprisingl vamp and heel sections, each provided with means to receive a stretching device and a clamping;l device, a shoe stretching device ineludinn' reiatively movable members, removably connected to one of the receivingl means or' said vamp and heel sections, whereby the sections may be separated longitudinally to stretch the shoe to the desired shape, and a ciamping device adapted to be connected in the other of the receiving means oit said vamp and heel sections7 While said sections are in extended position 'thereby to hold id sec tions in extended position and permit the removal o't the stretching device from said sections.

7.1K shoe stretching device comprising vamp and heei sections each being;l provided with a stretching device receiving recess and clamp receiving recesses, a stretciningi device including extendable sections adapted to be removably seated in said iirst named readapted to hoidthe sections in stretched posiy tion whiic permittincthe ready the stretching device therefrom.

8. A shoe stretching1 device comprising separato vamp and heel sections, a stretcher having' extendabie sections removably connected to said sections by means of pivotal connections, whereby said vamp and heel sections are connected for relative pivotal movenient perinitting` the sections to be accommodated to the shape of the shoe when in stretched position, and removable clamping nieans-v` adapted to be engaged in portions of the vamp and heel sections to hoid them in removal of `adjusted position permitting the entire removal of the stretcher from between said sections. y

In testimony whereof, I have signed my naine to this specification.

ALBERT GODSHO. 

